And finally, after all of that, we crown a new NBA champion. Congratulations are in order for Laker fans everywhere, 
even if basically all of the NBA and sporting world hates you. And now with that out of the way, only 10 days until the draft…
HoopsWorld looks at the studs and duds from the last four NBA drafts: “Without a doubt Durant has made a bigger impact on the NBA than Greg Oden, but he’s also a better player than 90% of the league after just two seasons. With a team built to run and Durant as the focal point, the Thunder will be a team to be reckoned with in the not-too-distant future – and Durant only continues to improve. Durant raised his scoring by five points as a sophomore, his shooting percentage 40 points, and added two more rebounds a game. What’s he got up his sleeve for Year 3? The All-Star Game should be on his resume very soon.”
The Baseline reports that the Charlotte Observer reports that Steph Curry could go as high as No. 3 in the draft. Hey, who’s picking third again?: “Davidson guard Stephen Curry could be as high as the third pick in this month’s NBA draft and is unlikely to fall below the seventh pick, the Charlotte Observer is reporting. The only players clearly ahead of Curry at this point are Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin and Connecticut’s Hasheem Thabeet, a source tells the newspaper. Many have speculated that Curry could go to the Knicks, but the Knicks have the No. 8 pick in the draft. The source also said that four point guards — Curry, Spain’s Ricky Rubio, Syracuse’s Jonny Flynn and Memphis’ Tyreke Evans — could all go in the top eight.”
Something I was thinking about - The Lakers claim 15 titles. Five of those titles came while they were the Minneapolis Lakers. So if that counts, then I’m ready and fully willing to take that 1979 NBA title and count it. I didn’t feel right about it before, but seeing as one of the greatest sports franchises ever is doing it, I guess it is alright.
OKC still has assistant coach spots to fill: “Still down one assistant coach because of Paul Westhead’s departure following the firing of P.J. Carlesimo and subsequent promotion of Scott Brooks and hiring of Ron Adams, the Thunder could have one more assistant’s position to fill. The team is expected to move on without one of its four remaining assistants and has already begun interviewing candidates. The new additions could be announced in the near future. According to one league source, the positions could be filled before the June 25 draft, and at least one of the hires is likely to be an offensive-minded coach.”
Today is deadline day for draft prospects. Jrue Holliday is defintely in and Gani Lawal has pulled out. Patty Mills is leaning towards staying in and is set to work out for the Thunder today. Jeff Teague is reportedly in as well as Omri Casspi. The main question marks to watch for today are Greivis Vasquez, Luke Harangody, Patty Mills, Taj Gibson, Austin Daye and Jodie Meeks.
Darnell Mayberry looks at the BIG decision for OKC: “And so the time has come for Oklahoma City to decide how important a true center is for this roster going forward. The draft is 10 days away. Connecticut’s 7-foot-3 center, Hasheem Thabeet, still could be available when the Thunder picks No. 3. It could be a franchise-changing conclusion. On one hand, interior defense is clearly the Thunder’s most pressing need. Coach Scott Brooks and Co. preach defense daily but don’t have anything close to the anchor in the middle that is the linchpin on many of the league’s best defensive teams … But on the flip side, with its roster under construction, the Thunder isn’t in a position to draft for need. Many observers around the league think the Thunder should select the best player available, regardless of position and in spite of Oklahoma City’s gaping hole in the middle.”
HoopsWorld on Brandon Jennings’ Rubio comments: ”He may have gained experience but his play does not justify the lottery spot he’s been given,” one NBA scout who saw Jennings play for Rome told HOOPSWORLD. “I’m looking at a player that was very lukewarm to say the least. I saw him a lot but didn’t get to see him play much and not particularly well for that matter. Some scouts have a higher opinion on Jennings. But myself and other colleagues who are living in Europe who have seen him in the same context were like, ‘That’s it? A lottery pick? Oh, okay’.”
A potential technological breakthrough for the NBA: ”As the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic tested one another’s resolve in the finals, the N.B.A. was testing a new tracking system, one that could perhaps alter how the game is watched, measured and coached. Perched high above and adjacent to the court, six high-definition cameras in a semi-circle have captured and traced the movements of each player, the referees and the basketball in Games 3 and 4 of the N.B.A. finals at Amway Arena. The cameras streamlined information into two data processing computers tucked behind the rafters that are aimed at rapidly defining an N.B.A. game in a way that has not been seen before.”
DeMar DeRozan says he could take Blake Griffin in a dunk contest, but also says he’s a lockdown defender: “One year of college really made me focus on defense. I understand that now. I think of myself as one of the lockdown players at my position on defense. That is one of the key things I think I could bring to a lot of teams. And how much I have grown mentally, as a man in the one year at SC. That helped me. I learned, too, how to figure out ways to do things on the court that I did not know before. It took a lot, and I thought when I was done, I was ready to try the next level.”
Q&A with Ty Lawson: “Q: Are you 100 percent healthy these days? A: I’m up to speed. I’m running my fastest and jumping my highest. I’m playing my best basketball right now. I just want to showcase that to every team I go to. Q: One other thing people do say about you is that you are a winner. A: That’s what I love to do. At Carolina, we won 80 percent of our games while I was there. That’s the attitude I’m bringing to the NBA.”
@Anonymous
No need for apologies. I'd probably feel the same way on the other end of it. It was just something I was thinking about while people were flaunting the Lakers' 15th title.
@Anonymous
Again, it's not like I'm printing up 1979 Thunder championship shirts. Just by chance if the Thunder wins a title in the next 50 years, I would say we have two titles instead of one.
I don't brag about it or ever even think about it. But I had always thought that wasn't part of this franchise. Now I see it could be.
@p
If you haven't read the Mock Draft I did for the DailyThunder, then I can see how you'd think it was just one game for Thabeet. But it wasn't.
Here's an excerpt:
"Here's the giant red flag with drafting Thabeet: 9.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.4 blocks. Those are Thabeet’s stats when he played against potential first round big men in Dejuan Blair and Greg Monroe (2010 Draft now) and second round-to-undrafted big men in Josh Heytvelt (mid second round) and Goran Suton (late second round/undrafted).
When Thabeet doesn't play against a legitimate big man, he posts numbers of 13.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.2 blocks. That's a significant drop in points (3.8), rebounds (4.4) and even blocks (.8). Those numbers basically sum up my greatest fear with Thabeet: Any time he comes up against someone anywhere near his size and strength, he gets bodied and dominated. And guess what, that’s all he’ll see in the NBA."
So basically, when you look at it, the fear is that Thabeet is just a great shotblocker...and his competitive numbers support that analysis if you look at more than just one game, a la, his entire career.
daniel :
‘Rowdy celebrations in Los Angeles after Lakers win championship’
http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=4427
“Hundreds celebrated in the streets outside Staples Center after the Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA title win Sunday night, with some revelers damaging police cruisers, throwing rocks and bottles at officers and setting bonfires in the street, authorities said. About 25 people were arrested, most part of a rowdy crowd that split off on to surrounding streets after police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly, officer Karen Rayner said. Several police cruisers were damaged and reinforcement officers were called in from throughout the city to help disperse the crowd, Rayner said. Aerial television footage showed people jumping on a police car, rocking vehicles attempting to pass through the crowd, setting small trees on fire and throwing fireworks and flares set up by police. No injuries were reported. A gas station was looted and several cars, buses and a news van were vandalized, police said.”
That is nauseating. What a disgrace.
it seems this is the norm for championship celebrations nowadays ... the Phillies world series win was an exact replica ... when i saw that people were flipping cars & throwing bottles, i decided to stay home ...
i guess people are in desperate need to show destructive & lawless behavior & they are just looking for a reason.
Wilson :@cody
white
Wow, what a thorough argument… This horse is dead and buried. Thabeet is a MAJOR risk at best and his defense is mediocre against relative talent (see the Blair beat down). NEXT!!!!
that was ONE game against blair ... he had a double double with 5 blocks in the next matchup! ... & blair's team was pretty good too!
you're gonna measure a player based on his worst game of the season?
while at the same time measuring prospects based on workouts in an empty gym with no defenders!?...
@Crow
excellent points, Crow. That's why I am not high on the majority of players. It's usually hype over substance.
Drafts probably have more mistakes than good calls (because of multiple GMs missing on turns out to be good players).
For the Gortat believers you might not want to hear this. Seattle had two swings in the late 2nd round on 2005 before Gortat was drafted (he didn't come over right away) 57th. They used 48 on Gelabale (not bad) and 55 on Lawrence Roberts and sold him to Jerry West and the Griz. Amir Johnson was 56. Not bad normally but in retrospect a mistake.
Presti and Spurs took Mahinmi at 28. David Lee went 30th. Even highly regarded insiders make odd decisions, in retrospect or even at the time.
Clay will essentially get to answer that question, starting anywhere from 1-3 years from now. What will be the cutoff point for "I'm happy" or not? Not here yet but the clock is moving pretty quickly to that time. How patient and long-term is their thinking and faith? Good teams take time, especially when you decide to try to do it almost entirely from scratch. But at some point you see indications you are on the right track. Whether a few good weeks here and there in season 2 is enough already to produce that feeling or maybe a full pretty good season in year 3 or 4 is needed will vary by the person. Good weeks or months probably aren't enough in year 3 I don't think and certainly they shouldn't be by year 4.
@cody white
I had this attitude before doing some research and discussing the subject daily, on this forum, for at least the last 3-4 weeks. I think the "consinsuss"(sp?) is something similar to what Bryan said.
How about trade down for get Curry or Harden a bit later and package it with the 25 to get a Free agent starting center. (birdman, Gortat, Odem, Millsap, Boozer?, McGee?...) we'll have cap room to sign a vet, and we need the leadership, defensivly inside.(look at what Dez Mason did for moral and direction.)
As Joe mentioned a day or so ago, Presti will do something that not many see coming. I can't freekin wait!! (Can we sign Presti to a lifetime contract? I got 5 on it!)
@daniel
...nice...
Harden is actually pretty high on this.
Holiday is really bad on this.
I bought into his high school hype last fall but his first college season wasn't very impressive.
Per possession Hansbrough, Pendergraph, Thornton and Blair are among the lowest at turning it over
at draft express, look at bottom right corner
http://tinyurl.com/mdbj89
The one thing the Thunder can’t do is add someone who is turnover prone like all the current core players (Green, KD, RW0). That eliminates everyone but Blake Griffin (not going to happen) and James Harden if we are talking about the third overall pick.
And don’t forget, that the Thunder have plenty of room under the cap. They could easily add a big like Anderson (my choice)or Gorat to fill the middle while all the other teams are struggling to shed contracts.
I say take Harden at 3, trade the 25 pick and an expiring contract to move up a bit and take BJ Mullens. Then add the Bird Man…Instant bubble team maybe better…
The one thing the Thunder can't do is add someone who is turnover prone like all the current core players (Green, KD, RW0). That eliminates everyone but Blake Griffin (not going to happen) and James Harden if we are talking about the third overall pick.
And don't forget, that the Thunder have plenty of room under the cap. They could easily add a big like Anderson (my choice)or Gorat to fill the middle while all the other teams are struggling to shed contracts.
I say take Harden at 3, trade the 25 pick and an expiring contract to move up a bit and take BJ Mullens. Then add the Bird Man...Instant bubble team maybe better...
@Crow
It's not like I'm going to prance around with a 1979 championship shirt, but I had never ever considered claiming that and now after realizing the Lakers have, it made me think differently of it. That's all.
Ok.
I do understand your perspective and was actually trying to not go resentful this time. Actually almost as many of today's franchises have moved as have stayed in the same place if you count the whole history with lots of the movement being early.
I am just personally not that nostalgic or prideful about nostalgia. If I didn't watch and care for them at the time they aren't really mine.
@Crow
I didn't say I felt great about it, just better about it.
Royce, you can of course count the Sonics title as part of the Thunder legacy and glory if you want but I doubt it will give that much pride or pleasure but learn n enjoy it if you wish. I adopted the Sonics in the late 80s and I never felt a connection to or really a care about the championship team.
The Lakers kept the same name, same owner (for a little while) and except for superstar for the time Mikan the same top players.
Eschbach on the Animal a few minutes age : " OKC has enough shooters " . . .
What's wrong with you peoples? As I've explained here over ten trillion times, "iggy wiggy pooga flop". Now get with the program!
Here's a story on Thabeet http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=12956
Hasheem Thabeet? I've heard of him. He's got a cool voice, but he's a surefire bust.
@Kev
"for the fifty millionth time"
I've told you at least a billion times not to exaggerate!
It's amusing to see with all the technology we have at our disposal (internet) people point to our interior defense as the glaring problem . . .
for the fifty millionth time, our OFFENSE needs more help!!!!
29th in Offensive Efficiency is horrible . . .
@cody white
no.
@cody white
We have no low defense, but at least we improved on defense.
You know what we didn't improve on? Offense...
Harden...
@cody white
Wow, what a thorough argument... This horse is dead and buried. Thabeet is a MAJOR risk at best and his defense is mediocre against relative talent (see the Blair beat down). NEXT!!!!
MartzMimic :@daniel
If it had been breakfast, I would have recommended he go to Hard(en)ee’s.
Heh, we could use that to make a new moniker for Harden: 'Rise N Shine'
the thunder need to draft hasheem thabeet! its that simple, we have no down low defense! so he would bring that to the thunder!
Winning big in the regular season and going far in the playoffs are two potentially different things as many teams find out so I think it is wise to bring this up Jax.
Players who can play multiple positions "well" and provide multiple types of positive impacts are certainly even more valuable in the playoffs, adjusting to match-ups and taking advantage of opportunities.
Presti does seem to be trying to think / do this the San Antonio way. Whether he chosen the right guys to accomplish that time will tell.
Westbrook will have to stay or become a true 2 way strong player...
and a better PG and a better outside shooter. Green will have to study lots of opponents and how to beat them. Beyond what normal players do. Durant will have to do even more of what Kobe and Lebron do.
They still need a true big to do what Duncan or Gasol or Garnett or O'Neal did. Rasheed Wallace was barely enough. Big Z these days probably isn't enough. Howard might be but isn't there yet.
Laimbeer probably wouldn't mind the heat from the fans, it seems to make him better.
@daniel
If it had been breakfast, I would have recommended he go to Hard(en)ee's.
@Crow
Only if we get to boo and throw things at Lambeer from the stands. Then I'm on board.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
Fascinates me, too. Well put.
Terry Stotts would be a big name around here, since he's a former OU player.
I wish I could remember who it was, but it's been too long now. It was a radio show, and I'm thinking it was ESPN's The Pulse with Doug Gotlieb, but I'm not positive. Again, it's been too long. Anyway, the guest was talking about the intricacies of building two types of NBA teams. One team was built to win any game it played, and the other team was built to win a 7 game series. The guest talked about how any NBA team could beat any other NBA team on any given night because all NBA teams are talented enough to win. The difference between winning and losing isn't always about talent, but about the business of basketball. 4th game in 5 nights? Not a talent question. Played the Celts once in October, and once in February, both the 2nd half of back to back games, and your film sessions are basically boiled down to highlight reels? Not a talent issue. Face the triangle offense twice a year? Not a totally talent related subject.
He went on to talk about how the NBA teams that win the most, and win the most 7 game series, are the teams with veteran experience, who know how to exploit a mismatch, who know how to make adjustments offensively and defensively. He said the Spurs win so much because they were built to win a 7 game series. Duncan, in his prime (and still today, even) is a matchup nightmare for teams. Parker is lightning quick from the outside, and Ginobli is circus act that scores. You may have one guy on your team that can guard one of those three one on one successfully. But you don't have 3 guys that can guard all of them. So you have to double, and make adjustments, and do it again and again and again in a 7 game series.
He mentioned Don Nelson and Mike D'Antoni as two coaches that build their teams to win any game they play, rather than a series. They can get teams to run with them for a one game stand once in a while during the season, but when the full focus of a team built to win a series is on them, suddenly their style of play is dictated to them, rather than the other way around, and their plan breaks down.
I'm sorry to ramble, I just got to thinking about the subtle differences between teams built to win any game and teams built to win a series because of the whole assistant coach subject. I just imagine that Presti will take yet another piece of the Spurs model and integrate it into the Thunder. If Presti is building a series winning team, he'll want assistant coaches that understand that goal.
I wish I could remember who it was that was the guest on the radio show. I was fascinated with it at the time, and it obviously left an impression on me.
Presti is unlikely to pick a big name / big personality that would take attention or influence away from Brooks or himself though. (Until maybe if / when his job is on the line.) I'd also look at guys like Eric Snow or Bryan Gates. Snow probably leads elsewhere by his choice. Gates seems like worth a shot somewhere.
Stotts would seem a fine choice for a lead assistant but he probably won't leave Dallas to be an assistant in OKC. Unless he thought he might get the head job out of it someday and you probably don't want to do that.
from twitter/russwest44:
"Abt to grab some lunch..don't kno where yet tho."
Oh cmon Russell... Arby's of course! Beef-n-Cheddar with some curly fries.
Actually, Ralph Lewis was selected by Bob Weiss if you can believe it. He has lasted as an underling assistant through Bob Hill, P.J. and 2/3rds of a year of Scotty. Talk about sticktoitiveness. That's a lot of losing.
Weiss wanted somebody who has worked his way up the ranks. Ralph Lewis was a very short termed NBA player, and then a coach somewhere in college (not head I don't think), and then a D-league coach.
So he may be the odd man out, but I think the players really like him. Mark Bryant seemed aloof to the players and other coaches, but he was a quiet warrior on the court too, so that may be his personality. He may the man out.
But if you get rid of Bryant, who is going to coach the big men? Bryant is the only one with any experience there.
And, if they are going to get somebody with some offensive mojo, they ought to get somebody who knows something about the Princeton offense that worked so well in Sacto all those years, and is a big part of Houston now under Adelman. Adelman learned it from Pete Carill, and Eddie Jordan is a disciple and has had success. It uses a lot of back cuts and requires smart ball players, but it is tough to stop.
Coach Karl's teams always are good on offense. Maybe Dwayne Casey or Terry Stotts would be good (both former Sonic assistants in the good old days).
@Joe
Russel Westbrook pic from the link I saw here I think from Dylan or Daniel.
daniel :well Mark, I don’t have any kids. But if I did, I wouldn’t be indoctrinating them with Lakers propaganda.
....
I’d indoctrinate them with Thunder propaganda!
GO THUNDER!!!!!!
@daniel
Well spoken fellow Thundarian! LOL
Laimbeer has left the WNBA. If I was a GM I'd go after him as a lead assistant.
I assume Mark Bryant was a PJ pick and will be gone to step further away from that Presti choice / stage / mistake.
Well said JG.
@Royce
Yeah, at this point, I think the Thunder are interested in drafting me judging from all the unbelievably contradictory reports.
Oh, and to weigh in on the whole "journalism ethics" discussion. For me, it really comes down to this and I'm happy that daniel helped embody it: We have become so used to "anonymous sources" that the majority of people who read that article didn't even think twice about it. In fact it's so rampant, that some don't even see it as an issue.
Whereas, any of us who have taken any journalism classes, written scholastic essays or know our history regarding issues of accountability (McCarthyism, Watergate, etc), it simply comes down to professionalism and literary accountability. If you don't adhere to those standards with the "unimportant" news items like sports, why would/should you with the important ones? Furthermore, who except their readership holds journalists accountable (this is a fact I know Mayberry is very passionate about himself).
Now I'll agree that in this day-in-age of information overload where everyone has the ability to broadcast their opinion to the masses, the integrity of reporting facts has taken a hit, which is precisely why it is so essential for the individuals who make an actual living out of it and are looked to as the models and examples of journalist integrity/professionalism, to be just that.
Hence why Gundy's rant got a 95% approval rating on the ESPN poll: the majority of Americans don't have faith or trust in their journalists anymore. Somewhat of a "big deal," wouldn't you say?
That was fun. :)
This team does need an interior defender but one who can handle the physical and split second mental challenges of the NBA. I think the odds that Thabeet is above average after a few years is 1 in 3 or less.
So if you want that then I*'d probably be more interested in going real hard for Gortat.
I'd trade 3 or / and whatever else it took if you could get the right quick-footed 7 footer (or equivalent when considering length)- if anybody is willing to trade such a player at an acceptable age and salary. It would be difficult but I'd try that over Thabeet or doing nothing.
I'd consider Kaman. He is probably available but in the end they probably don't trade him yet.
I'd look at the tape on Speights and Hibbert though it is very unlikely you could get the former. (Unless maybe you offered Westbrook. And then took Curry.)
Hill or Pendergragh at center... I don't know enough to evaluate those possibilities satisfactorily but I'd evaluate them thoroughly if I was in Presti's shoes or shop.
The Thunder assistant coach bench is not above average. If you want to become above average you need to upgrade there along with elsewhere. I'd start completely over.
@J.G.
Very, very interesting.
I think we'll have an idea of who it is narrowed down to by the end of this week. Though I wouldn't rule anything out with Presti.
Per Chad Ford, the Thunder are likely to pass on Ricky Rubio and draft either Harden or Curry with the third overall pick.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/insider/news/story?page=09DraftBuzz
@Royce
"but I just thought it was a wee bit odd"
'wee' is also is great word.
[if it's not Scottish... it's crap!]
@Vince
"Anyway, thanks for saying “tidbit” again. It’s a happy word."
It is. I was thinking about substituting 'item' for the second usage, but... it just doesn't have the same... snap to it. Yep, tidbit is a good word!
:)
Here's the deal:
It's not a mega-issue. It really doesn't mean much at all. But in a situation like this, if you don't have enough info or weight to put behind it, then just wait. Nobody is going to beat you to it and if anybody does, nobody will care that you were 'scooped' on the Thunder assistant coach story.
But I'm with Vince - it's just strange that he used an anonymous league source, that's all. Like I said, wait a bit and get the real deal or don't report it at all. It's not that I think the entire world of journalism ethics are crumbling to the floor now, but I just thought it was a wee bit odd.
daniel :@Vincewow, the integrity of journalism (an oxymoron if I’ve ever heard one) is at stake because a sport beats writer posted a completely un-important tidbit from an anonymous source. I just hope that I can believe anything I ever read again. My confidence is shaken.
Take the self-righteousness down about 95%. I was semi-joking in the original post (hence the Godfather reference). Meanwhile, ask yourself why "the integrity of journalism" is, as you claim, an oxymoron. You don't think stuff like this has something to do with it? Every newspaper has rules for anonymous sources. That article -- tidbit or no -- doesn't follow the rules from any reputable paper. End of story. Anyway, thanks for saying "tidbit" again. It's a happy word.